43 Bible Verses about Civil authorities
Most Relevant Verses
Jesus answered him, "You have no authority over me at all, except what was given to you from above. That's why the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
Every person must be subject to the governing authorities, for no authority exists except by God's permission. The existing authorities have been established by God,
When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, "Here is the man I told you about. This man will rule over my people."
The LORD told Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I've rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I'm sending you to Jesse from Bethlehem because I've chosen for myself one of his sons as king."
Then he chose his servant David, whom he took from the sheepfold. He brought him from birthing sheep to care for Jacob, his people, Israel, his possession.
Kings reign by me, and rulers dispense justice through me. By me leaders rule, as do noble officials and all who govern justly.
Now I've given all these lands to my servant, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I've even given him the wild animals to serve him.
Then say to them, "This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: "I'm going to send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I'll take him and set his throne over these stones that I've buried, and he will spread his canopy over them.
It is God who alters the times and seasons, and he removes kings and promotes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
This order is announced by the observers, and the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires, and he places the least important of men over them.'
Your majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty, as well as greatness, glory, and splendor. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all nations, nations, and languages revered and feared him. He executed those whom he desired to execute, he spared those whom he wished to spare, he promoted those whom he desired to promote, and he humbled those whom he wished to humble. But when he became arrogant and his spirit hardened, he was removed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. read more.
He was driven away from human society and given the mind of an animal. He lived with wild donkeys, ate grass like cattle, and his body was soaked with dew from the sky until he realized that the Most High God is sovereign over human kingdoms and places over them whomever he desires.
For they are God's servants, working for your good.
This is what the LORD says to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, as I strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him and gates that cannot keep closed:
I'm now sending for all the tribes from the north, declares the LORD, and for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I'll bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I'll utterly destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting desolation.
This is also why you pay taxes. For rulers are God's servants faithfully devoting themselves to their work.
Administering justice brings joy to the righteous, but terror to those who practice iniquity.
For the Lord's sake submit yourselves to every human authority: whether to the king as supreme, or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
"Whoever sheds human blood, by a human his own blood is to be shed; because God made human beings in his own image.
Whoever refuses to practice the law of your God and the law of the king is to see judgment executed quickly, whether to death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.
For he will deliver the needy when they cry out for help, and the poor when there is no deliverer. He will have compassion on the poor and the needy, and he will save the lives of the needy. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, since their lives are precious in his sight.
David shepherded them with a devoted heart, and led them with skillful hands. A Psalm of Asaph
A king brings stability to a land through justice, but a man who takes bribes brings it to ruin.
If I'm guilty and have done something that deserves death, I'm willing to die. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal to the emperor!"
For the authorities are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you like to live without being afraid of the authorities? Then do what is right, and you will receive their approval. For they are God's servants, working for your good.
for kings, and for everyone who has authority, so that we might lead a quiet and peaceful life with all godliness and dignity.
My son, fear both the LORD and the king, and don't keep company with rebels. They will be destroyed suddenly, and who knows what kind of punishment will come from these two?
Remind believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, and to be ready to do any honorable kind of work.
When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came up to Peter and asked, "Your teacher pays the temple tax, doesn't he?" He answered, "Yes." When Peter went home, Jesus spoke to him first and asked him, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings on the earth collect tolls or tributes? From their own subjects, or from foreigners?" "From foreigners," he replied.read more.
So Jesus told him, "In that case, the subjects are exempt. However, so that we don't offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Take it and give it to them for me and you."
Then the Pharisees went and planned how to trap Jesus in conversation. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. They said, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere and that you teach the way of God truthfully. You don't favor any individual, because you pay no attention to external appearance. So tell us what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"read more.
Recognizing their wickedness, Jesus asked, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax." They brought him a denarius. Then he asked them, "Whose face and name is this?" They told him, "Caesar's." So he told them, "Then give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
Then they sent some Pharisees and some Herodians to him, intending to trap him in what he said. They came and told him, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere. You don't favor any individual, because you pay no attention to external appearance. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or shouldn't we?" Seeing through their hypocrisy, Jesus replied to them, "Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it."read more.
So they brought one. Then he asked them, "Whose face and name are on this?" They told him, "Caesar's." So Jesus told them, "Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.
So they watched him closely and sent spies who pretended to be honest men in order to trap him in what he would say. They wanted to hand him over to the jurisdiction of the governor, so they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you're right in what you say and teach, and that you don't favor any individual, but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"read more.
But he discerned their craftiness and responded to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose face and name does it have?" "Caesar's," they replied. So he told them, "Then give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
But the midwives feared God and didn't do what the king of Egypt told them. Instead, they let the boys live.
Ahab addressed Naboth and asked him, "I would like to plant a vegetable garden near my house. Please exchange your vineyard with a better one from me, or if you'd rather have cash, I'll buy it for its full value." But Naboth replied to Ahab, "No way! The LORD prohibits the sale to you of the inheritance of my ancestors!"
Daniel determined within himself not to become defiled by the king's menu of rich foods or by the king's wine, so he requested permission from the chief officer not to defile himself.
All of the royal administrators, prefects, regional authorities, scribes, and governors have concluded that the king should establish and enforce an edict that anyone who prays to any god or man for the next 30 days (except to you, your majesty) is to be thrown into the lions' pit. Therefore, your majesty, establish the decree and sign the written document so it can't be changed, in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians that can't be repealed." So King Darius signed the edict contained in the written document.read more.
When Daniel learned that the written document had been signed, he went to an upstairs room in his house that had windows opened facing Jerusalem. Three times a day he would kneel down, pray, and give thanks to his God, just as he had previously done.
They told him, "Caesar's." So he told them, "Then give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
So Jesus told them, "Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.
So he told them, "Then give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
But Peter and John answered them, "You must decide whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God,
By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after he was born, because they saw that he was a beautiful child and were not afraid of the king's order.
Bible Theasaurus
- Authorities (66 instances)
- Civil (18 instances)
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